The White House announced that beginning September 20, the United States will offer COVID-19 booster shots (CNN) to fully vaccinated adults. Federal health officials said (White House) a nationwide rise in virus cases and evidence of waning vaccine protection prompted the decision.
 
Officials from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other health experts warned wealthy countries against offering boosters (Nature) while much of the world has yet to receive a single vaccine dose. Mike Ryan, the executive director of the WHO’s Health Emergencies Program, likened the decision to “handing out extra life jackets” to people who already have them while others are left to drown. Biden administration officials acknowledged that it is important to continue vaccinating those abroad and said the United States would ramp up donations. The White House also announced vaccine requirements for some nursing-home workers and new COVID-19 funding for state governments. Meanwhile, political battles over mask mandates continue to roil (Reuters) some of the U.S. states where vaccination rates are lowest.

Former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is currently serving as interim premier, and his political coalition said they support Ismail Sabri Yaakob (Straits Times), Yassin’s former deputy, as Malaysia’s next prime minister. Muhyiddin resigned Monday (Bloomberg).
 
Japan: Officials reported the Paralympics’ first confirmed COVID-19 case (NYT) in the Olympic Village. Earlier this week, Japan extended the state of emergency (Kyodo) in Tokyo and several other areas to September 12.

With U.S. support, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will block a transfer (Politico) of $450 million in funds to Afghanistan in the wake of the Taliban’s takeover. Yesterday, Taliban fighters reportedly shot at protesters (AP) rallying against the group in the city of Jalalabad, killing at least one.
 
For Foreign Affairs, Vanda Felbab-Brown looks at what Washington can do about the Taliban’s victory.
 
Pakistan: At least four people were killed in a grenade attack on an Ashura mourning procession of Shiite Muslims in eastern Pakistan, Radio Mashaal reported. No group immediately claimed responsibility.

Hezbollah’s top leader said the group facilitated a shipment of Iranian fuel (Al Jazeera) to Lebanon amid the country’s energy crisis and warned against any attacks on the vessel.
 
UAE: Speaking from the United Arab Emirates, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani denied reports that he took large sums of money with him when he fled Afghanistan on Sunday. He also said he is in talks to return (Al Jazeera) to the country.

While meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for a peaceful resolution (AP) to the conflict in and around Ethiopia’s Tigray region and offered to mediate Ethiopia and Sudan’s dispute over the al-Fashaga border region.
 
For the Africa in Transition blog, CFR’s Michelle Gavin discusses how Ethiopia’s conflict spread beyond Tigray.
 
Gambia: Health officials said they will begin a polio vaccination campaign (AFP) after the virus was found in sewage in two parts of the country. Gambia was declared polio-free in 2004.

Slovenia, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, said after a consultation with the bloc that Belarus is permitting illegal border crossings (AP) of migrants as “a direct attack aimed at destabilizing and pressuring the EU.” The bloc said it will work to counteract Belarus’s actions, which increased after the EU sanctioned Belarusian officials earlier this year.
 
Brussels: Since the EU introduced requirements on disclosing sustainability information about investments, some funds marketed as green were found to include shares of oil, mining, and tobacco companies, a Reuters analysis revealed.

The government that took office after former President Evo Morales fled Bolivia in 2019 engaged in systematic torture and summary executions (AP) of opponents, according to a new report from human rights experts commissioned by the Organization of American States.
 
Cuba: The government announced a sweeping decree (Miami Herald) regarding social media that classifies Cubans who criticize the government as cyberterrorists and gives government agencies increased regulatory power over tech companies. Protesters used social media to organize widespread demonstrations last month.
 
On The President’s Inbox podcast, CFR’s Paul J. Angelo and Carmen Sesin discuss Cuba’s protest wave.